I work in a busy cardiac /stroke unit and there is simply no place to chart or think. The station is a thorough fare - often there is no space to sit. Charts are above the sitting / computer area and difficult to get to. paper work is voluminous. Sometimes I forgo charting because I don't want to wade through the mass of people. If I get up to answer a call light, or check the monitor someone takes my seat. The noise level is so high that you cannot hear yourself think, let alone give report on the phone. You can never find the vital sign board. People will put charts on top of your notes/ brains, so you are constantly looking for things.
The med room is a tiny closed space that leads into this area.
Managment is planning on having us wear "sashes' so people don't talk to us while giving meds to decrease med errors. I think this is demeaning and doesn't address the problem
First of all on my very busy floor we are constantly trouble shooting meds with each other and need to communicate. We are also giving meds all day long as people go in and out of rythms and have changes in blood pressure. We would be taking the sash on and off every day. Not to mention we just had an outbreak of scabies in the hospital - Over 40 nurses were infected.
I have requested drop down tables - We have 2 but they are old and at an angle so things fall off them, and they are taken up by other disciplines. I am told there is a fire issue???
I would like to know if any one else has this problem, and what was done about it, and if there has been any research to show a decrease in med errors, when RN's have a space to keep their tools, and to think things through.
When I worked in LTC, a lot, if not most, of my charting happened after the end of shift. I learned the hard way that people would bother me and didn't care when I told them I was off duty. So, I gathered up all the charts I needed and took them to the break room to finish my charting. Funny that nobody came to the break room looking for one of the charts. I also got to see who started their shift in the break room, but I didn't care about that. I just wanted a place to do my work.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
If you can, please post this article so I can take it into my unit. I have had nurses come up to chat, or literally come up and make comments: Get out of the way, or, Are you done yet? Or, whatever. People get in a rush and expect you to "hurry up" so they can do their meds and so you get hurried -- and it's bad.
As soon as I remember which journal it was in (I get six of them) and how long ago it was, I'll find a link and get it out. I think it was RN and at least six months ago... guess I better clean up my office so I can find the bookcase!:imbar
Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
So far no luck finding the particular issue of the particular journal. But I did a quick online search and found this document that has the same photo used in the article. The hospital credited with the idea is Senterra Leigh Hospital in Norfolk Va. You could probably contact them for more information.
LTC is the worst! Your cart goes with you room to room. Med pass takes 2 hours, because of all the interruptions. You are a target for every question, complaint, demand... Sometimes I want to snap at people - leave me alone! Same with the nursing station and charts.
caliotter3
38,333 Posts
When I worked in LTC, a lot, if not most, of my charting happened after the end of shift. I learned the hard way that people would bother me and didn't care when I told them I was off duty. So, I gathered up all the charts I needed and took them to the break room to finish my charting. Funny that nobody came to the break room looking for one of the charts. I also got to see who started their shift in the break room, but I didn't care about that. I just wanted a place to do my work.